4L80E To Shift or Not To Shift??? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

BigDan3131 · 02-22-2015, 04:09 AM

I've been making progress on my truck and pulled the stock glide out today and I started thinking about whether or not to add a shifter or just use the column.
So those of you with 4L80E's do you just leave it in Drive when you race and adjust everything from either the controller for your shift points or thru your ecm? It will save me a few hundred dollars to not have to put one in [a shifter] and fab a stand for it.

djracer · 03-27-2015, 10:35 PM

I have not raced with an 80 but I would think letting it shift itself would be more consistent!

Heavymetl · 03-28-2015, 08:45 AM

Program it to shift electronically. It does take some "tuning", as there can be a 2-300 rpm delay between commanded shift and actual shift.

I also used the Lokar adjustable shift rod on my 1970 C10/4L80E. Works awesome! Obviously though the 3 speed indicator is incorrect but eh...no worries about that from me

BR3W CITY · 03-28-2015, 06:18 PM

I like having a shifter for a couple reasons. First, mine is a weird Kilduff shifter, so I just like the hot rod way it looks.

Before I had a stall, I like having it to hold a gear when you were playing around in it. I also like being able to pop to neutral and coast out easy, or being able to put it into 2 when I'm in stop and go traffic and just put along.

My truck gets street miles as well, so that made the shifter practical not performance.
Any time its been going for all out time, I just let it do its own thing.

On the same vein of thinking, what about o/d? Do yall go straight Drive, or o/d off?

BigDan3131 · 03-28-2015, 11:04 PM

Now that that's been answered Do I just go with the TCI controller or the "Black Box" controller that all gears are manual shift? I will be using a shifter now since even the Lokar shifters in either the rod style or cable need fine tuning. My city driving is maybe 2-5 miles a day compared to freeway driving which is 32+ round trip, that's why I mentioned the black box controller. I will be adding both a very large cooler and an extra deep pan.

tranz am · 03-28-2015, 11:30 PM

have been recently very interested in the 4L80e swap as well so I've been doing my homework. TCI sells a controller that will work but I have determined that there is a better controller on the market check out www.usshift.com.

also if you're interested in a fully automatic trans brake valve body check out http://www.jakesperformance.com/site...%2F4L80E.html#

BigDan3131 · 03-30-2015, 02:16 AM

The only issue I saw with the us shift model is its about $175 more than the TCI unit and the Jakes valve body I already knew about.

02-22-2015, 04:09 AM	#1
BigDan3131 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Maple Valley, WA Posts: 1,913	4L80E To Shift or Not To Shift??? I've been making progress on my truck and pulled the stock glide out today and I started thinking about whether or not to add a shifter or just use the column. So those of you with 4L80E's do you just leave it in Drive when you race and adjust everything from either the controller for your shift points or thru your ecm? It will save me a few hundred dollars to not have to put one in [a shifter] and fab a stand for it. __________________ Custom Painter/Restoration Specialist 1965 GMC 3/4 Ton LB SOLD? 1964 Chevy El Camino in full restoration 1991 Chevy S10 288K+ miles 2nd Owner SOLD 2020 RAM 1500 Warlock

03-27-2015, 10:35 PM	#2
djracer Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Wetumpka, Al, U.S. Posts: 8,892	Re: 4L80E To Shift or Not To Shift??? I have not raced with an 80 but I would think letting it shift itself would be more consistent! __________________ Kevin Special Thanks to All who have helped on the TRUCK! My Pass Time Show http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p...Chapter1-0.mp4 So Far my best Times are: Motor only: 6.44 1/8 @ 104.13 10.39 1/4 @ 125.83 Nitrous Times: 5.785 1/8 @ 118.65 with a 1.336 60ft 9.168 1/4 @ 142.58 with a 250 shot dead out of the hole!

03-28-2015, 08:45 AM	#3
Heavymetl Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Southern Ohio Posts: 292	Re: 4L80E To Shift or Not To Shift??? Program it to shift electronically. It does take some "tuning", as there can be a 2-300 rpm delay between commanded shift and actual shift. I also used the Lokar adjustable shift rod on my 1970 C10/4L80E. Works awesome! Obviously though the 3 speed indicator is incorrect but eh...no worries about that from me __________________ 1970 C10 Turbo LM7 5.3/LS6 cam PT7675/4L80E/Holley Dominator EFI/E85 Moser 9" 3.25/4 wheel discs 11.16@121.07

03-28-2015, 06:18 PM	#4
BR3W CITY meowMEOWmeowMEOW Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: MKE WI Posts: 7,128	Re: 4L80E To Shift or Not To Shift??? I like having a shifter for a couple reasons. First, mine is a weird Kilduff shifter, so I just like the hot rod way it looks. Before I had a stall, I like having it to hold a gear when you were playing around in it. I also like being able to pop to neutral and coast out easy, or being able to put it into 2 when I'm in stop and go traffic and just put along. My truck gets street miles as well, so that made the shifter practical not performance. Any time its been going for all out time, I just let it do its own thing. On the same vein of thinking, what about o/d? Do yall go straight Drive, or o/d off? __________________ *'66 Short Step / SD Tuned / Big Cam LQ4 / Backhalfed /Built 4l80e / #REBUILDEVERYTHING* MY BUILD THE H8RDCPTR //\\ MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL REV J HD

03-28-2015, 11:04 PM	#5
BigDan3131 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Maple Valley, WA Posts: 1,913	Re: 4L80E To Shift or Not To Shift??? Now that that's been answered Do I just go with the TCI controller or the "Black Box" controller that all gears are manual shift? I will be using a shifter now since even the Lokar shifters in either the rod style or cable need fine tuning. My city driving is maybe 2-5 miles a day compared to freeway driving which is 32+ round trip, that's why I mentioned the black box controller. I will be adding both a very large cooler and an extra deep pan. __________________ Custom Painter/Restoration Specialist 1965 GMC 3/4 Ton LB SOLD? 1964 Chevy El Camino in full restoration 1991 Chevy S10 288K+ miles 2nd Owner SOLD 2020 RAM 1500 Warlock

03-28-2015, 11:30 PM	#6
tranz am Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Santa Rosa, Ca Posts: 586	Re: 4L80E To Shift or Not To Shift??? have been recently very interested in the 4L80e swap as well so I've been doing my homework. TCI sells a controller that will work but I have determined that there is a better controller on the market check out www.usshift.com. also if you're interested in a fully automatic trans brake valve body check out http://www.jakesperformance.com/site...%2F4L80E.html# __________________ My build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=456220 Best 1/4 mile time 12.1 @ 111 w/traction issues 1969 GMC SWB 1964 chevy II Nova ht

03-30-2015, 02:16 AM	#7
BigDan3131 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Maple Valley, WA Posts: 1,913	Re: 4L80E To Shift or Not To Shift??? The only issue I saw with the us shift model is its about $175 more than the TCI unit and the Jakes valve body I already knew about. __________________ Custom Painter/Restoration Specialist 1965 GMC 3/4 Ton LB SOLD? 1964 Chevy El Camino in full restoration 1991 Chevy S10 288K+ miles 2nd Owner SOLD 2020 RAM 1500 Warlock

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